Govt to install new diplomat in Kabul

The federal government is sending a new ambassador to Afghanistan to observe the Karzai government's promised crackdown on corruption.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Saturday announced that former East Timor ambassador Paul Foley would replace the current ambassador to Afghanistan Martin Quinn, who will end his 21-month term next month.

Mr Smith reiterated that Australia, which has 1550 troops in Afghanistan, was committed to the country "for the long haul".

He said the appointment of Mr Foley was timed to follow the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan's president on Thursday.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Karzai promised to tackle corruption and oversee a "professional cabinet", while setting a five-year goal for the Afghan military to take over from international forces.

Mr Smith said Australia joined other contributors to the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force in hoping for improvements in Afghanistan's administration.

"Australia and the international community look to the new Karzai government to make substantial progress on corruption, governance, on provision of services to the people of Afghanistan and on anti-narcotics work," he told reporters in Perth.

"(We also look to it) taking a greater responsibility and burden so far as the security of Afghanistan is concerned."

He said Mr Foley is an experienced career diplomat currently seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

He has served as Assistant Secretary for Counter Terrorism and Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Branch, and from 2002 to 2004 was Australian Ambassador to East Timor.

He served as an adviser to the East Timor Stabilisation Force commander during the 2006 intervention and has also served overseas in Baghdad and Riyadh.